The MAA provides for an equitable sharing of available waters for all eastward flowing streams that cross interprovincial boundaries, including lakes and serves to protect transboundary aquifers and surface water quality.

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PPWB Strategic Plan

The Strategic Plan for the Prairie Provinces Water Board (PPWB) was revised in October 2012. The Plan is summarized below.

Preamble

The Master Agreement on Apportionment was signed by the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Canada in 1969 in order to ensure the equitable apportionment and protection of eastward flowing interprovincial streams. The Agreement defines the apportionment of these streams and provides water quality objectives at the provincial boundaries. The Agreement also provides for the cooperation of the parties in interprovincial water management.

The Agreement established the Prairie Provinces Water Board (PPWB) to administer the Agreement. The Board, which works by consensus, has over the years established a culture of information sharing and cooperativeness. While the Agreement provides a core foundation for the sharing and protection of interprovincial waters, the Board understands the need to ensure the Agreement is current. Consequently, over the years the Board has recommended amendments to the Agreement and revised its work program to respond to new challenges. This is exemplified by the addition in 1992 of both the Agreement on Water Quality (Schedule E) to the Master Agreement and the inclusion of a groundwater mandate.

The purpose of the Strategic Plan is to identify current challenges of transboundary water management and identify the core MAA mandate to fulfill conditions of the Agreement and guiding principles that achieve the vision and mission. Specific goals are outlined to achieve the core MAA mandate. Strategies are oulined to achieve these goals.

The strategic plan will be implemented by the Board through its Secretariat and Committees and by the Member Governments.

Challenges

Authorities over water are shared amongst governments;

Actions in one government may affect other governments;

The volume and timing of flows in streams that originate in the Prairies are highly variable throughout the year and from year to year;

Water use and consumption in southern Alberta is a large percentage of available supply;

Population and economic activity are increasing;

Climate variability will affect timing and volume of available water;

Monitoring must be rationalized within existing budgets;

Threats to surface water and groundwater quality are increasing; and,

Limited knowledge and understanding of transboundary aquifers.

Master Agreement on Apportionment

Established the PPWB of senior water resource officials from within each Government to administer the MAA;

Defines apportionment of eastern-flowing transboundary streams;

Sets out agreed-to water quality objectives for river reaches at the boundaries and a requirement to periodically conduct reviews of objectives at least every 5 years;

Considers interprovincial groundwater quantity and quality;

Fosters transboundary water quality management that promotes the protection and restoration of the aquatic environment;

Considers transboundary groundwater quantity and quality matters;

Cooperatively consults and exchanges information or makes recommendations to governments on transboundary water issues referred to the Board; and

Encourages co-operation in the development and use of water and related resources to support economic growth.

Vision

Effective transboundary water management on the Prairies.

Mission

To ensure that transboundary waters are equitably apportioned and protected in accordance with the Master Agreement on Apportionment;

To provide a forum for the exchange of information in order to prevent and resolve transboundary water conflicts; and,

To promote cooperation in transboundary water management.

Guiding Principles

Equitable sharing of water in transboundary streams, lakes, and aquifers;

Acceptable levels of water quality at interprovincial boundaries;

Consensus approach to resolving differences and making recommendations;

Science-based approach used to assess compliance with the MAA; and

Co-operation in the effective, economical and beneficial use of waters flowing from one province to another.

Goals

The Goals are based on meeting the core mandate and conditions of the MAA.

Agreed transboundary apportionment of water is achieved.

Transboundary groundwater aquifers are protected and used in a sustainable manner.

Agreed transboundary MAA water quality objectives are achieved.

Governments are informed about emergency and unusual water quality conditions.

Transboundary water issues are addressed cooperatively to avoid disputes.

Ministers, senior managers and appropriate staff of governments are informed about PPWB activities.